Featured After rail, India set to lose Iran gas project

[HAIDER]

After being "dropped" from a key rail project in southeastern Iran along the border with Afghanistan, India is also set to lose an ambitious gas field project in the country that had been in the pipeline for past 10 years.

India's Ministry of External Affairs in a statement on Thursday said Tehran would develop the Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf region "on its own" and might engage India "appropriately at a later stage".

Last week, Masoud Karbasian, managing director of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), told reporters that a new operator had been roped in to develop the gas field, replacing India's ONGC.

The field, estimated to possess 21.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, 12.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 212 million barrels of gas condensates, was discovered in 2008 by a consortium of three Indian companies — ONGC, Oil India Limited and Indian Oil Corporation.

According to the deal, the Indian side was supposed to develop the field but they abruptly stopped work in 2012, following the intensification of sanctions against Iran.

After sanctions were eased in 2015 following the signing of a nuclear deal between Iran and Western countries, India showed its willingness to return to the project.

However, things again fell apart amid the reinstatement of US sanctions on Iran in May 2018, which further "discouraged" India from making headway in the project, said sources familiar with the issue who requested not to be named.

"By May 2018, the two sides had made tremendous progress and agreed on key details of the project," the sources said. "However, the US sanctions played the spoilsport."

The two sides had disagreements among themselves as well, particularly on the number of pipelines to be laid and financial investment in the development plan, according to reports.

In May 2019, Iran's oil minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, said his ministry had devised a plan to finance the development of the Farzad-B gas field.

The NIOC had asked the Indian side to submit a financial plan for the field's development. However, Tehran was "not impressed" with the plan and asked for a new one, said the sources. India had reportedly made a $5.5 billion investment plan

In August 2019, after slow progress by the Indian side to submit a new plan, Karbasian said Iran would proceed with another operator for the project.

India's External Affairs Ministry, however, said the "follow-up bilateral cooperation" was impacted by "policy changes on the Iranian side".

Double blow
India's loss of the project marks a "big setback" for relations between the two countries, Tehran-based analysts, who asked to remain anonymous, told Anadolu Agency, as the Farzad-B gas field and Chabahar port were the two largest bilateral accomplishments between the two sides.

Earlier reports claimed that Iran had "dropped" India from a rail project after the Indian side showed reluctance to start work due to US sanctions.

Read: Iran drops India from key Chabahar project

The memorandum of understanding to construct the 628-kilometre railway line from the port city of Chabahar to Zahedan was first discussed between the two sides in May 2016.

It came on the sidelines of the signing of a trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan to develop a transport and trade corridor from India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in southeast Iran. The port has been operational since 2016 and has been exempted from US sanctions.

India's External Affairs Ministry dismissed the reports that Iran excluded it from the rail project as "speculative," saying Tehran was to "nominate an authorised entity to finalise outstanding technical and financial issues". The matter, it said, was "still awaited".

"IRCON was appointed by Government of India to assess the feasibility of the project. It was working with CDTIC, an Iranian company under their Ministry of Railways in that regard. IRCON has completed the site inspection and review of the feasibility report," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday, referring to the state-run Indian infrastructure firm undertaking the project.

"Detailed discussions were thereafter held on other relevant aspects of the project, which had to take into account the financial challenges that Iran was facing. In December 2019, these issues were reviewed in detail at the 19th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting in Tehran."

Read: US sanctions, coronavirus make for Iran's toughest year, says Rouhani

An official from Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation has also denied the reports. However, he said Iran "has not inked any deal with India" for the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan railroad.

"Iran has only signed two agreements with Indians for investment in Chabahar: One is related to the port's machinery and equipment, and the second is related to India's investment to the tune of $150m," Farhad Montaser told state news agency IRNA on Wednesday.

According to the 2016 MoU between India's IRCON and Iran’s CDTIC, IRCON was to "provide requisite services for the construction of Chabahar-Zahedan railway line which forms part of transit and transportation corridor in trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan".

Services to be provided by IRCON, as part of the MoU, included all "superstructure work and financing the project", estimated to be around $1.6 billion.

However, the two sides failed to reach an agreement, sources said. Last week, Iran went ahead with a track-laying ceremony for the rail line, which will eventually stretch to Zaranj on the Afghan side.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1569742/after-rail-india-set-to-lose-iran-gas-project

 

[Pandora]

Modi Zindabad

 

[niaz]

All these are new developments due to the changing political landscape of the region. None of these are due to any diplomatic efforts on the part of Pakistan.

In my humble opinion, all events /developments/paradigm changes that are beyond the control of the affected parties should not be the cause of celebration or of commiseration. Primarily because the circumstances could change again and celebrations could turn out to be premature.

On a personal basis, I abhor the butcher Modi, but also realize that he the leader of the BJP, the party currently ruling one of the largest military & economic powers in our neighborhood. We, therefore, need to continue our efforts to somehow find a way of peaceful co-existence with his government.

 

[Rafale+Meteor+Spectra]

Complete BS. ONGC himself has quit plans to sign contract for Farzad B project as no progress was possible for 10 years after US imposed sanctions.

India's ONGC had been looking to secure a contract for the gas field since 2009. But no contract has been possible due to deepening US sanctions which would have placed ONGC at sanctions risk.

ONGC is not a fool to risk US sanctions.

So it is Iran's fault for not being able to convince US not to impose sanctions.

Not a single European or Japanese or South Korean company has agreed to provide equipment for Farzad.

Even China would be helpless as some equipment needed by gas fields projects are so far made only in Europe and US

Iranian themesleves have failed to do a single thing in Farzad in 10 years.

Iran has failed to involve even China in Farzad-B due to total US sanctions.

China too has failed to develop a single gas field or oil reserve in Iran after US sanctions.

Moral of the story: Don't mess with US.

 

[PAKISTANFOREVER]

Complete BS. ONGC himself has quit plans to sign contract for Farzad B project as no progress was possible for 10 years after US imposed sanctions.


ONGC is not a fool to risk US sanctions.

So it is Iran's fault for not being able to convince US not to impose sanctions.

Not a single European or Japanese or South Korean company has agreed to provide equipment for Farzad.

Even China would be helpless as some equipment needed by gas fields projects are so far made only in Europe and US

Iranian themesleves have failed to do a single thing in Farzad in 10 years.

Iran has failed to involve even China in Farzad-B due to total US sanctions.

China too has failed to develop a single gas field or oil reserve in Iran after US sanctions.

Moral of the story: Don't mess with US.

For the sake of quality assurance, honesty and reliability, can you post a link to some reliable, credible, irrefutable and genuine evidence that proves and confirms your claims?

 

[khansaheeb]

All these are new developments due to the changing political landscape of the region. None of these are due to any diplomatic efforts on the part of Pakistan.

In my humble opinion, all events /developments/paradigm changes that are beyond the control of the affected parties should not be the cause of celebration or of commiseration. Primarily because the circumstances could change again and celebrations could turn out to be premature.

On a personal basis, I abhor the butcher Modi, but also realize that he the leader of the BJP, the party currently ruling one of the largest military & economic powers in our neighborhood. We, therefore, need to continue our efforts to somehow find a way of peaceful co-existence with his government.

Iran is coming to its senses and punishing India for it's dastardly treachery and backstabbing. India deserves it, maybe Indians will ditch Modi for the harm he is causing to the India people.

 

[Muhammed45]

All these are new developments due to the changing political landscape of the region. None of these are due to any diplomatic efforts on the part of Pakistan.

In my humble opinion, all events /developments/paradigm changes that are beyond the control of the affected parties should not be the cause of celebration or of commiseration. Primarily because the circumstances could change again and celebrations could turn out to be premature.

On a personal basis, I abhor the butcher Modi, but also realize that he the leader of the BJP, the party currently ruling one of the largest military & economic powers in our neighborhood. We, therefore, need to continue our efforts to somehow find a way of peaceful co-existence with his government.

Logical analysis. Apart from what you said sir, do you agree that Indian leave sh!t behind wherever they go? Now we must clean the area from Indian sh!t.

 

[Species]

Complete BS. ONGC himself has quit plans to sign contract for Farzad B project as no progress was possible for 10 years after US imposed sanctions.


ONGC is not a fool to risk US sanctions.

So it is Iran's fault for not being able to convince US not to impose sanctions.

Not a single European or Japanese or South Korean company has agreed to provide equipment for Farzad.

Even China would be helpless as some equipment needed by gas fields projects are so far made only in Europe and US

Iranian themesleves have failed to do a single thing in Farzad in 10 years.

Iran has failed to involve even China in Farzad-B due to total US sanctions.

China too has failed to develop a single gas field or oil reserve in Iran after US sanctions.

Moral of the story: Don't mess with US.

These are just official explanations.

India has always been exempted from US sanctions over Iran. There are also several mechanisms like using different currencies to circumvent other effects of sanctions.

 

[PAKISTANFOREVER]

All these are new developments due to the changing political landscape of the region. None of these are due to any diplomatic efforts on the part of Pakistan.

In my humble opinion, all events /developments/paradigm changes that are beyond the control of the affected parties should not be the cause of celebration or of commiseration. Primarily because the circumstances could change again and celebrations could turn out to be premature.

On a personal basis, I abhor the butcher Modi, but also realize that he the leader of the BJP, the party currently ruling one of the largest military & economic powers in our neighborhood. We, therefore, need to continue our efforts to somehow find a way of peaceful co-existence with his government.

The ONLY way that can happen is if Pakistan becomes so militarily powerful that india will not DARE mess with us. We can't reason with india as far as Pakistan and Pakistanis are concerned.

 

[HAIDER]

Logical analysis. Apart from what you said sir, do you agree that Indian leave sh!t behind wherever they go? Now we must clean the area from Indian sh!t.

They known for sloppy contracts and work area security breaches. Modi govt is bunch of shortsighted clan. If there was Congress, they would get the blame of kickbacks but they eventually execute the contract.

 

[mikkix]

All these are new developments due to the changing political landscape of the region. None of these are due to any diplomatic efforts on the part of Pakistan.

In my humble opinion, all events /developments/paradigm changes that are beyond the control of the affected parties should not be the cause of celebration or of commiseration. Primarily because the circumstances could change again and celebrations could turn out to be premature.

On a personal basis, I abhor the butcher Modi, but also realize that he the leader of the BJP, the party currently ruling one of the largest military & economic powers in our neighborhood. We, therefore, need to continue our efforts to somehow find a way of peaceful co-existence with his government.

Sir, most of the things you mentioned are true but you still believe Modi and Indian establishment will give a chance to the peace? It will be a blunder on our side. Yes we should continue our peace rhetoric with India in the media but in reality there is not a single chance of peace. Iran has to join the CPEC becauese there is no chance of it to get away from sanctions as Israel will not allow it. One problem we can have is Iran may become Pakistan's competitor and we lost better leverage from China. Don't you think being India there in Iran may provide Pakistan more opportunity to grab from China. Although Pakistan and China strategic relations are now unchallengable.

 

[Dalit]

Iran is coming to its senses and punishing India for it's dastardly treachery and backstabbing. India deserves it, maybe Indians will ditch Modi for the harm he is causing to the India people.

Let me say what this really is. I said this some ago time and today I stand vindicated. India has been appeasing all sides shamelessly. When the Americans recruited the Indians as an anti-China stooge it had to pick a side. The Indians played all sides for a long time. It’s luck has run out. India is being forced to pick a side. Since it benefitted from Western and US preferential treatment it is expected to fully obey to US demands. What we are witnessing today is not a coincidence. It is expected that India is going to fully kneel in front of its masters.

Iran got played for a long time. Indians came in with fancy promises, but couldn’t deliver. In the process India even influenced Iran and this had an adverse effect on Iran Pakistan relations. Luckily Iran took the right step. It ditched a backstabber and is finally looking out for its interests and the interests of the region.

Every nation in the region needs to understand that India is not loyal to the region. Indian loyalty lie with nations across the ocean.

Sir, most of the things you mentioned are true but you still believe Modi and Indian establishment will give a chance to the peace? It will be a blunder on our side. Yes we should continue our peace rhetoric with India in the media but in reality there is not a single chance of peace. Iran has to join the CPEC becauese there is no chance of it to get away from sanctions as Israel will not allow it. One problem we can have is Iran may become Pakistan's competitor and we lost better leverage from China. Don't you think being India there in Iran may provide Pakistan more opportunity to grab from China. Although Pakistan and China strategic relations are now unchallengable.

Correct. There is zero chance of peace with Modi’s Hindustan.

 

[PurpleButcher]

Let me say what this really is. I said this some ago time and today I stand vindicated. India has been appeasing all sides shamelessly. When the Americans recruited the Indians as an anti-China stooge it had to pick a side. The Indians played all sides for a long time. It’s luck has run out. India is being forced to pick a side. Since it benefitted from Western and US preferential treatment it is expected to fully obey to US demands. What we are witnessing today is not a coincidence. It is expected that India is going to fully kneel in front of its masters.

Well said! The big question is can India balance its relationship with Russia (and russian defence apparatus) while being a member of the US led anti China quad group? Any chances of that luck running out soon?

 

[TheDarkKnight]

All these are new developments due to the changing political landscape of the region. None of these are due to any diplomatic efforts on the part of Pakistan.

In my humble opinion, all events /developments/paradigm changes that are beyond the control of the affected parties should not be the cause of celebration or of commiseration. Primarily because the circumstances could change again and celebrations could turn out to be premature.

On a personal basis, I abhor the butcher Modi, but also realize that he the leader of the BJP, the party currently ruling one of the largest military & economic powers in our neighborhood. We, therefore, need to continue our efforts to somehow find a way of peaceful co-existence with his government.

Please tell us what are the ”efforts” that you see lacking on Pakistans part? And what efforts you see on the Indian side for do called peaceful co-existence? Peace is there for Pakistan to grab but at what cost and conditions? For example Pakistan can start by accepting IOK as Indian territory and as a gesture of goodwill vacate AJK and GB as well, and let the people of GB deal with the Indian Army. A few years down the line once Indian hegemonic designs are fullfilled intellectuals will then ask the same questions about why Pakistan cannot peacefully coexist with Iran and Afghanistan the same way as with India etc.

On a personal basis, I abhor the butcher Modi, but also realize that he the leader of the BJP, the party currently ruling one of the largest military & economic powers in our neighborhood.

Size parity issues were always there between Pakistan and India. Our neighbors are and in past were huge economic and military powers - China, Soviets, USA, India etc. You can include Iran too, as the imperialist mindset that exists there think of them as no less than USA as well. Anyway, the current thinking in Indian circles is to finish off the rest of the Pakistan. Certain class of people on our side have no hope and see this as inevitable, so why not just simply give in !

 

[HAIDER]

Please tell us what are the ”efforts “ that you see lacking on Pakistans part? And what efforts you see on the Indian side for peaceful co-existence? Peace is there for Pakistan to grab but at what cost and conditions? For example Pakistan can start by accepting IOK as Indian territory and as a gesture of goodwill vacate AJK and GB as well, and let the people of GB deal with the Indian Army. A few years down the line once Indian hegemonic designs are full filled intellectuals will the start on asking the same questions about why Pakistan cannot peacefully coexist with Afghanistan the same way as with India etc.


Size parity issues were always there between Pakistan and India. Our neighbors are and in past were huge economic and military powers - China, Soviets, USA, India etc. You can include Iran too, as the imperialist mindset that exists there think of them as no less than USA as well. Anyway, the current thinking in Indian circles is to finish off the rest of the Pakistan. Certain class of people on our side have no hope and see this as inevitable, so why not just simply give in !

Include Afghanistan, been rule by Kings with nationalistic mindset.